Guide blade brake



March 24, 1942. M. RUDERT ETAL 2,277,255

GUIDE BLADE BRAKE Filed May' 19, 1958 4 Sheets-Sheet '1 Filed May 19, 1938 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Miwmeqs.

March 24, 1942. RUDERT ETAL I 2,277,255

GUIDE BLADE BRAKE Filed May 19, 1958 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 K V/ I max Pads?! L Jung mu sSner 1M! um 1% imam-u March 24, 1942. M; RUDERT EI'AL GUIDE BLADE BRAKE Filed May 19, 1938 ma Lmur'lg 'mel'ss'ner Rude Um 5 Q Qlnyeufws.

Affovw l 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 e+ h m Patented Mar. 24, 1942 GUIDE BLAD'E BRAKE Max Rudert, Ludwig Meissner, and Rudolf Ungethiim, Heidenheim, Brenz, Germany, assignors to J. M. Voith, Heidenheim on the Brenz, Germany, a copartnership composed of Walther Voith, Hermann Voith, and Hanns Voith.

Application May 19, 1938, Serial No. 208,908 In Germany May 24, 1937 6 Claims.

This invention relates to rotary machines, such as turbines or pumps, and in particular, to devices for preventing fluttering of the guide blades of such turbines.

One object of this invention is to provide an apparatus for the preventing of fluttering of the guide blades of rotary machines, particularly hydraulic pumps and water turbines, in such a manner as to hold the guide blade stationary during operation and thereby to insure quiet and safe operation of the machine.

Another object is to provide an apparatus for preventing the fluttering of rotary machines of this type, wherein a fluid pressure motor is arranged to actuate the guide blade brake.

Another object is to provide an apparatus of this character, wherein a braking effect is applied either directly to the spindle of the guide blade or to the operating lever thereof.

Another object is to provide an apparatus of this character, wherein a fluid pressure motor is arranged to operate the braking device, and is provided with control means of such a character that the operating pressure fluid is removed from the motor during the operation of adjusting the guide blades, thereby interrelating the adjusting device with the braking device.

Another object is to provide an apparatus of this character, wherein a fluid pressure motor operates brake shoes engaging the guide blade spindles, through a mechanism consisting of oppositely acting links and levers, or through the intermediate action of a movable member having cam surfaces thereon, or connected to the brake levers by a connecting rod.

Another object is to provide an apparatus of the above character, wherein a braking bushing surrounds the guide blade spindle and is operated by suitable mechanism to become constricted and therefore to engage the spindle with a braking grip.

Another object of the invention is to provide an apparatus of the above character, wherein a brake is directly applied to one end of the guide blade spindle or to a member interconnecting the various guide blades, for example, a ring.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view, partly in section, showing a guide blade braking apparatus, wherein two brake shoes are applied simultaneously to the spindles of a pair of guide blades by means of a toggle lever mechanism operated by a fluid pressure motor.

Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure 1, but

showing a modification of the braking apparatus, wherein the braking mechanism is operated by a cam surface upon a movable member, such as a ring, which is shifted by a fluid pressure motor.

Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 2, but showing a modification, wherein the braking mechanism is operated through a connecting rod or link from a movable member, such as a ring, the latter being shifted by a fluid pressure motor.

Figure 4 is a further modification showing a longitudinal section along the guide blade spindle, of a hydraulic pump or turbine, showing a brake operated directly against the end of the guide blade spindle.

Figure 5 is an enlarged fragmentary view similar to Figure 4, showing a further modification of the braking mechanism.

Figure 6 is a View similar to Figure 5, but showing a further modification, wherein a braking bushing is applied to the guide blade spindle.

Figure 7 is a view similar to Figure 4, but showing a further modification, wherein the braking mechanism is applied through a member, such as a ring having portions engaging the various guide blades.

Figure 8 is a bottom plan view, partly in section, of Figure 7, with a portion of the housing removed to disclose the guide blade.

Figure 9 is a further modification showing a section along the line 9-9 in Figure 10, wherein the braking efiect is applied to the guide blade operating levers through the ring having portions engaging shoes upon the guide blade operating levers.

Figure 10 is a plan View of the braking mechanism shown in Figure 9.

' In general, the invention resides in a braking apparatus for preventing the fluttering of the guide blades of rotary machines, such as pumps and water turbines, and has for its purpose the holding fast of the guide blades during operation in order to insure a quiet and safe operation of the machine. Hitherto in such machines the guide blades have been mounted upon spindles so that their positions may be adjusted to regulate the flow of the fluid into the machine. In many installations, however, these guide blades would start fluttering by reason of the action of the fluid flowing past the guide blades, especially when this flow was undirected prior to its arriving at the guide blades. The oscillations set up in the guide blades were transmitted through the guide blade adjusting mechanism to the regu.

lating mechanism, and these oscillations can create such a powerful effect that the efliciency and safe operation of the machine is endangered. The mere holding fast of the guide blades through the ordinary regulating mechanism does not usually suffice for this purpose. The applicants have found that the guide blades must be held fast by a special apparatus in the immediate vicinity of the guide blades.

According to the present invention, the braking mechanism for preventing this guide blade fluttering and for holding the guide blades fast operates either directly upon the guide blades upon their spindles, or upon the operating levers of these spindles. In one form of the invention the braking mechanism consists of brake shoes which are pressed against the guide blade spindles, either against the ends thereof or against the sides of the spindle, preferably by means of a fluid pressure motor, so that the guide blades are held fast in any desired working position. In one form of the invention the mechanical advantage of the force applied to the guide blades by the fluid pressure motor is increased by means of suitable mechanism, and by such mechanism two or more guide blades can be braked and held fast simultaneously by the same motor. Other forms of the invention employ cam surfaces or connecting rods for actuating the braking mechanism from a movable ring, which itself is actuated by a fluid pressure motor. Still other forms of the invention employ braking devices applying a braking effect directly to the guide blade spindle itself, or applying holding members directly to the guide blades or to the levers which adjust the positions of the guide blades.

Referring to the drawings in detail, Figure 1 shows a portion of a hydraulic turbine, wherein the guide blades ID are mounted upon guide blade spindles II, journalled in pedestal bearings I2 having bases I3 secured, as at I4, to the casing of the machine. Each pedestal bearing I2 is provided with a bore I5 for rotatably receiving the guide blade spindle II, and also with a transverse chamber I6 containing a brake shoe I1 upon a rod I8, slidably mounted in the bore I9 within the extension in the pedestal bearing I2. The brake shoe I! is provided with a curved braking surface 2| which engages the uide blade spindle II for the purpose of holding it fast, and preventing its motion or fluttering in any position of its adjustment. The guide blade spindles II are arranged in an annular assembly in the usual manner along the circular path indicated by the circular are 22, and are adjusted by suitable crank arms and an adjusting ring, which are omitted for the sake of more clearly showing the other mechanism. Such crank arm constructions for adjusting the guide blade positions are shown in Figures 4 to 10.

The brake rods I8 are pivoted by the pivot pins 23 to the ends of links 24, each pair of such links having a common pivot pin 25 forming an operating connection with the piston rod 26 of the fluid pressure motor, generally designated 21. The latter may consist of a cylinder 28 containing a reciprocatory piston 29, mounted upon the piston rod 26 and having a port for the admission of pressure fluid for operating the piston 29 and piston rod 26. Suitable means such as the springs 3| may be provided for retracting the piston 29. The port 30 is connected by the conduit 32 to a brake valve- 33 having a lever 34 operatively connected to the adjusting ring I20 for the guide blades It.

In the operation of the apparatus shown in Figure 1, during the adjustment of the guide blades It the pressure is released from the cylinder 28 through the discharge conduit 35, at the same time that the pressure line 35 from the source of operating fluid is by-passed through the conduit 31. The brake valve lever 34 may be operated through suitable mechanism operatively connecting its pivot 38 with the control ring I20 for adjusting the guide blades Ill. The control ring I20 i shifted by the rod I2I connected thereto. When the guide blades I0 are adjusted by the turning of their spindles II, through the agency of the adjusting ring I20, the piston 29 and piston rod 26 are retracted to remove the brake shoes H from engagement with th guide blade spindle I I.

In the modification shown in Figure 2, the arrangement of the braking mechanism in the vicinity of the guide blade spindles is substantially the same as that in Figure l and similar reference numerals are employed. Instead of the piston rod 26, however, an operating rod 40 is slidably journalled, as at 4|, and on its outer end carries a roller 42 mounted upon the pin 43 and engaging the cam surface 44 upon a movable member 45, here shown in the form of a ring. The ring 45 is actuated by means of a spindle 48, mounted thereon and pivotally engaged by the connecting rod 41, which is pivoted as at 48 to the piston 49 of a fluid pressure motor 50, having a cylinder 5| mounted upon a bracket 52 secured to the casing 53 of the machine. The braking mechanism of Figure 2 may be retracted in any suitable manner, such as by the spring 54 urging the roller 42 into engagement with the cam surface 44 at one end and abutting the stationary casing portion 55 at its opposite end.

In the operation of the braking apparatus shown in Figure 2, when it is desired to hold the guide blade spindles in any particular adjusted position, pressure is supplied to the piston 49 of the fluid pressure motor 50 through the pressure intake conduit 56. The piston 49 then moves tangentially and shifts the ring 45 and the cam surface 44 in such a manner as to move the rollers 42 and rods 40 inwardly, thereby forcing the brake shoes I! against the guide blade spindles I I. The ring 45 may be retracted in any suitable manner, such as by springs, or by fluid pressure in a manner analogous to that shown in Figure 1. Similarly, the application of pressure to the motor 55 may be interrelated with the control ring for adjusting the guide blades III, in a manner like that shown in Figure 1, wherein the pressure is removed from the motor 50 when the guide blades It are being adjusted. The construction shown in Figure 2 has the advantage that all of the respective braking mechanisms for the guide blade spindles II may be operated from a single fluid pressure motor 50.

In the modified construction shown in Figure 3, the braking mechanism adjacent the guide blade spindles II is also similar to that of Figures 1 and 2, except that a connecting rod 63 is pivotally attached to the links 24 at the pivot shaft 25, and at its other end is pivotally connected to the spindle GI, mounted upon the ring 62. The latter is shifted by a fluid pressure motor mechanism 58, identical with that shown in Figure 2, and bearing similar reference numerals.

In the operation of the modification shown in Figure 3, the ring 62 is shifted by the fluid pressure motor 50 in the same manner as the ring 45 in Figure 2, and the same mechanism may be employed as in Figure l for retracting the ring 62 and for relating the admission of pressure in the motor 50 to the operation of the adjusting ring for the guide blades I0, in such a manner as to prevent the application of the brake shoes I! during the adjustment of the guide blades I0. When the guide blades have been adjusted to a suitable position, the braking effect is applied by admitting pressure fluid to the motor 50 through the conduit 55. This shifts the ring 62 and the pivot pin 6i, carried thereby, thus causing the connecting rod 60 to be shifted to the right in Figure 3, and forcing the brake shoes II against the guide blade spindles II.

In the modification shown in Figure 4, the guide blade spindles II of the guide blades I are journalled, as at '3 and 64, in the casing portions 65 and 65 of the machine. Mounted upon one end of the guide blade spindle I I is the guide blade operating lever or arm 61, to the outer end 68 of which connection is made to the adjusting ring for adjusting the positions of the guide blades ID, The opposite end 69 of each guide blade spindle II is engaged by a brake surface I0 mounted upon and actuated by the piston I I, reciprocable in the cylinder I2 within the casing 66. In the operation of the modification shown in Figure 4, pressure is admitted to the cylinder I2 through the conduit I3, forcing the piston II and the brake surface I0 into engagement with the end 69 of the guide blade spindle II, holding the latter in its adjusted position. In Figure 4 the casing portion, designated 65, may consist of a pedestal bearing.

In the modification shown in Figure 5, the guide blade spindles II of the guide blades I0 are surrounded by bushings I4, mounted in bores I5 within the pedestal bearing I9. The spindle I I passes through the bore 71 therein, and at its outer end is mounted the operating arm I8. This is connected at its outer end I9 to the adjusting ring in a manner similar to that described in connection with Figure 4. The bushing I4 is provided with an oblique surface 80 at its outer end, engaged by the corresponding oblique surface 8I upon the collar 82 surrounding the guide blade spindle II. Attached to the collar 82 is an arm 83, operatively connected by the link 84 to a brake-operating ring 85. In operation, when the latter is shifted in any suitable way, the arm 83 is swung through an arc, thereby turning the collar 82 upon each guide blade spindle II. This action causes the oblique surfaces 8| and 8,0 to engage each other with a cam-like action, in such a manner as to raise the guide blade spindles I I and guide blades I 0 so that the latter engage the surfaces 85 of the pedestal bearings 16.

In the modification shown in Figure 6, the construction of the guide blade I0, spindle II and operating arm I8 is similar to that shown in Figure 5. Surrounding the spindle II and mounted in a bore 90 in the pedestal bearing or casing portion 9| is a sleeve 92 having an internal conical portion 93. The latter is engaged by the corresponding conical portion 94 of a. split bushing 95 having a threaded portion 96 engaging the correspondingly threaded portion 91 of the sleeve 92. The upper end of the split bushing 95 is provided with a flanged portion 98, carrying an arm 99 operatively connected, as at I00, to the brakeoperating ring IOI. In operation, when the brake-operating ring I 0| is shifted, the arm 99 swings the conical split bushing through an arc, screwing it inwardly and causing it toconstrict the guide blade spindle II, locking the latter in position.

In the modification shown in Figures 7 and 8, the construction of the guide blade I0 with its spindle II and operating arm I8, is also similar to that shown in Figure 5 and is similarly journalled, as in Figure 4. Arranged adjacent the respective guide blades I0, however, is a movable anchor ring I02, carrying projecting pins I03, which are caused to engage the guide blades II] when the ring I02 is shifted. Mounted on the ring I02 is a pivot pin I04, pivotally connected to a link I05 which in turn is pivotally connected, as at I06, to a crank arm I01 mounted upon the shaft I08. In operation, when the shaft I08 is rotated in a clockwise direction, the ring I02 is shifted upwardly in Figure 8 and the pins I 03 are caused to engage and hold the guide blades I0 in their adjusted positions, thereby directly preventing fluttering.

In the modification shown in Figures 9 and 10, the guide blades I0, spindles II and operating arms I8 are mounted in a manner similar to the corresponding structure in Figure 4, this structure being omitted for the sake of clearness of showing. Secured to the outer end I9 of the operating arm I0 is the adjusting ring IIO, whereby the arms I8 of a plurality of guide blade spindles II may be simultaneously shifted. The ring H0 is, in turn, shifted by the member I I I pivotally connected thereto, as at II2, whereas the ring H0 is pivotally connected, as at the pin II3, to each of the outer ends I9 of the operating arms I8. Pivotally mounted upon the pins II 3 are shoes II I engaging the thrust surfaces II5 of the saw-tooth projections IIB of a brake-operating ring I I1.

In the operation of the construction shown in Figures 9 and 10, the guide blades I0 are adjusted to any desired position by means of the member III and adjusting ring IIO, whereupon the ring II! is shifted by any suitable means, thereby bringing the thrust surfaces II5 of the projections IIG into engagement with the shoes II 4. In this manner the guide blades I0 are prevented from rotating by means directly applied to the outer ends I9 of their operating arms 78. No fluttering of the guide blades I0 can therefore occur since they are held fixedly in position in the above described manner.

All of the foregoing constructions have the common purpose of preventing the guide blades from fluttering, either through braking or holding the guide blade directly, as in Figures 7 and 8, or indirectly braking the guide blade spindle, as in Figures 1 to 6, inclusive, or in holding fast the operating arms of the guide blade spindles, as in Figures 9 and .10. Whatever the mechanism chosen for this purpose, the result is achieved of preventing the fluttering of the guide blades and thereby insuring a quiet and safe operation of the mechanism.

It will be understood that we desire to comprehend within our invention such modifications as come within the scope of the claims and the invention.

Having thus fully described our invention, what we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a hydraulic machine having adjustable guide blades, means for adjusting the positions of said guide blades, rotatable spindles for supporting said guide blades, brake shoes engaging said spindles, and means for urging said brake shoes into engagement with said spindles.

2. In a hydraulic machine having adjustable guide blades, means for adjusting the positions of said guide blades, rotatable spindles for supporting said guide blades, brake shoes engaging said spindles, and means for simultaneously urging a pair of said brake shoes into engagement with a pair of said spindles.

3. In a hydraulic machine having adjustable guide blades, means for adjusting the positions of said guide blades, rotatable spindles for supporting said guide blades, brake shoes engaging said spindles, and means for urging said brake shoes into engagement with said spindles, said urging means comprising a fluid pressure motor.

4. In a hydraulic machine having adjustable guide blades, means for adjusting the positions of said guide blades, rotatable spindles for supporting said guide blades, brake shoes engaging said spindles, means for urging said brake shoes into engagement with said spindles, said urging means comprising a fluid pressure motor, and means for rendering said motor inoperative in response to the operation of said adjusting means.

5. In a hydraulic machine having adjustable guide blades, means for adjusting the positions of said guide blades, rotatable spindles for supporting said guide blades, brake shoes engaging said spindles, and means for urging said brake shoes into engagement with said spindles, said urging means comprising a fluid pressure motor having a piston rod operatively connected to said brake shoes.

6. In a hydraulic machine having adjustable guide blades, means for adjusting the positions of said guide blades, rotatable spindles for supporting said guide blades, brake shoes engaging said spindles, cam means for urging said brake shoes into engagement with said spindles, and means for operating said cam means.

MAX RUDERT. LUDWIG MEISSNEft. RUDOLF UNGETHUM. 

